The world of publishing in Egypt took center stage during a roundtable discussion held on Thursday, October 2, as part of the conference program of the 17th Algiers International Comics Festival (FIBDA). Egypt, the guest of honor of this edition, was represented by a panel of prominent creators, including Andrew Henry, Sarah Loid, Rasha Abul Ma’ati, and Khaled Abdelaziz. The discussion offered a deep look into the realities, challenges, and ambitions shaping the Egyptian comics scene.
Andrew Henry and Sarah Loid, co-founders of the publishing house « Couple Comics » launched in 2020, shared the story behind their creative partnership. Henry, a lifelong comics enthusiast with a particular fondness for Spider-Man, explained that his studies at the School of Fine Arts solidified his artistic calling. Loid, formerly a graphic designer, described her initial focus on black-and-white abstract drawing, far removed from manga or comics. Their meeting sparked a collaboration that led to the creation of their publishing house, driven by the desire to « tell stories that resonate with audiences » and reflect their own perspectives. Henry stressed the importance of producing original narratives: « In the Arab world, we’re like sponges, we absorb what comes from elsewhere. That’s why it’s crucial to tell our own stories. » Loid echoed his words, adding: « We want to share an Egyptian and Arab voice, with our own ideas and values, not those of others. »
Artist and illustrator Khaled Abdelaziz, an art education graduate and former contributor to the magazines « Majed » and « Samir », reflected on how anime and comics shaped his early career. He emphasized the need for a distinctly Egyptian and Arab identity in comics. « I wanted to express myself, for me and for the Arab world, » he said, underscoring the importance of creating an authentic artistic voice rather than merely following imported trends.
Rasha Abul Ma’ati, a passionate manga reader, anime fan, and experienced cosplayer, traced her love of drawing back to childhood. « When I was young, if I didn’t like the ending of a cartoon or a story, I would imagine a different one and draw it, » she recalled. Raised in an artistic family, with a father who also drew, she described the difficulties of breaking into the publishing scene. She noted that many publishers are not specialized in manga and often adopt a purely commercial approach, which led her to self-publishing. She also praised Al Mahroussa publishing house for « doing remarkable work in promoting the ninth art. »
Abdelaziz pointed out that while self-publishing offers artists creative control, it also comes with limitations, particularly in distribution. He also revisited a standout moment in Egyptian comics history: the « Flash » series of the 1980s, which sold 600,000 copies at the Book Fair. He lamented that this success was neither properly analyzed nor built upon. He concluded by emphasizing the enduring power of print: « It takes just one keystroke to erase everything, and we’ve seen this with censorship around Gaza. But print lasts, you can’t erase what’s been printed. We must preserve print culture. »